Zimbabwe strike back to stay in hunt

AFP, HARARE

Zimbabwe supporters cheer during the third day of the second Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Photo: AFP

Three quick wickets at the start of the second innings kept Zimbabwe’s bid for a series victory over Bangladesh alive after the home side had conceded a first innings deficit of more than 100 on day three of the second Test yesterday.

Robiul Islam had become the first seamer to take five wickets in consecutive innings for Bangladesh as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 282 — a first-innings deficit of 109.

However, pace bowlers Shingirai Masakadza and Kyle Jarvis benefitted from some questionable umpiring as they reduced Bangladesh to 18-3 before Mominul Haque and former skipper Shakib Al Hasan steadied the innings to take the tourists to tea on 43-3.

Masakadza had Tamim Iqbal and Jahurul Islam caught behind in consecutive overs, although only the latter appeared to have edged the ball through to the wicketkeeper.

Jarvis then trapped Mohammad Ashraful LBW, but replays suggested the ball was missing the leg stump. With the Decision Review System not in place due to the prohibitive costs, the umpires’ decisions were final.

With an overall lead of 152, Bangladesh retained the upper hand thanks largely to Robiul’s herculean efforts with the ball in the first innings.

Having taken 6-71 in the second innings of the first Test, Robiul charged in for 33 overs to claim figures of 5-85 in the first innings of the second.

His success outshone Elton Chigumbura’s highest Test score of 86, which came in an impressive counter-attack that included a brisk 85-run partnership with Richmond Mutumbami, who scored 42.

Mutumbami was trapped LBW by Robiul after padding up to a straight delivery, while Chigumbura was bowled by the paceman on the stroke of lunch.